Relic of the First Oil Boom

March 20, 2014

Built in 1850, the McClintock-Steele-Waitz House (also known as the Coal Oil Johnny House) was the home of John Washington Steele, the owner of one of the most productive oil farms during the region’s first oil boom. Keystone Fund grants supported interior rehabilitation of the building to accommodate tourist amenities and additional exhibit space after the Oil Heritage Region relocated the building to Oil Creek State Park. Now, this historic site helps tourists understand what life was like in the region during the first oil boom. It showcases the history of the McClintock and Steele families, and gives visitors the chance to observe a well-preserved example of 19th century construction.